DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – At the start of each school year, while millions of children return to their classrooms to continue learning and building their futures, others are forced to drop out and enter the workforce to help their families survive.
These working children endure harsh conditions and are deprived of education and safe learning environments that could secure their future. This growing divide underscores a deep inequality in rights and opportunities, raising urgent questions about how to guarantee every child’s right to education and a dignified life.
In Deir ez-Zor, poverty and years of conflict have forced thousands of children out of classrooms and into the workforce. As families struggle to meet basic needs, many see child labor as a necessity rather than a choice. This report explores the growing phenomenon of school dropouts in the region, the social and economic factors driving it, and the efforts by teachers, activists, and local organizations to restore children’s right to education and a better future.
“Work is a better option”
Hamed al-Ahmad, a teacher at an elementary school in Deir ez-Zor, told North Press that the problem of school dropouts has reached alarming levels. “Many children leave school due to difficult family circumstances. Some are forced to work to help their families cope with the cost of living. Sadly, education is no longer a priority,” he said.
He explained that extreme poverty, the loss of a family breadwinner, and a lack of awareness about the importance of education are among the main causes of the crisis. “Some parents believe work is the better option for their children,” he added.
Unofficial local reports estimate that around 2.5 million children in Syria dropped out of school in 2023. It remains unclear whether this figure has changed following the fall of the al-Assad regime.
Al-Ahmad warned that child labor has devastating consequences. “A child deprived of education becomes vulnerable to ignorance and poverty, and society as a whole loses its ability to progress when it fails to invest in its children,” he said.
Insufficient efforts
Ali al-Yousef, a social activist from Deir ez-Zor, said that addressing school dropouts requires “long-term, coordinated efforts.”
“We work to raise families’ awareness of the importance of education through workshops and seminars. We also provide financial aid to ease their burdens,” he told North Press.
While some families have responded positively, al-Yousef noted that “many still consider work the better choice for their children.” He added that limited resources and low public awareness remain the biggest challenges.
Mohammed Jassem, head of Swaedna, a local NGO, said his organization cooperates with international agencies to offer alternative education programs and scholarships for affected children. “We coordinate with the Ministry of Education to identify the most vulnerable areas and direct support where it’s needed most,” he said.
Jassem expressed hope that these efforts would reduce dropout rates. “Education is a basic right for every child, and collective action is vital to guarantee that right,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ammar, a mechanic who employs several children in his workshop, said he feels conflicted about the situation. “I know employing children is wrong, but most of them come out of need. If it were not for poverty, they would be in school,” he told North Press.
“I often remind them that education is the real key to their future,” Ammar added. “But their will to work is often stronger than their will to study.”